The six-month project was an effort to improve navigation and drive more building owners and managers to the site. American WeatherStar believes the new site design will accomplish the goals with a more intuitive presentation based on presenting its three core product divisions—Coatings, Spray Foam and Single-Ply—within a clean, easy-to-use and search-engine friendly environment.

The site has also been relocated to a new server, which may require frequent site visitors to clear their browser’s cache and history before the new site is visible. Be sure to update your bookmarks, too.

As a work in progress, American WeatherStar constantly strives to improve upon how the organization is presented. The company requests you share suggestions about its site, services and products.

Prokop brings more than 25 years of experience as a sales, marketing and operations executive in the sheet metal machine industry. For the past 10 years, he has been a co-owner of International Technologies Inc., Schaumburg, Ill., which imports metal folding, forming and welding equipment.

“David will be running both our hardware and business services side,” says MetalForming CEO Geoff Stone. “I’ve known him for 30 years, and without question he is one of the single best machine tool salesmen in North America. He has an enormous amount of expertise. He has broad experience selling European-made high-tech machine tools. He knows everything about our business on the technical side, and he actually began his career as a high precision sheet metal service technician. We’re fortunate to have him.”

MetalForming Inc. is the largest supplier of high-end architectural sheet metal machines in North America. In recent years, the company has also been developing software, communications, training and consulting services that enable customers in the metal roofing industry to network their machines on a factory floor and/or at the job site to reduce waste, increase productivity and respond to “just-in-time” needs of the construction business.

MetalForming’s advancements in lean manufacturing and factory automation are key reasons Prokop was eager to join the MetalForming team.

“What really excites me is the explosion about to take place in this industry to harness technology to combat market pressures and competition,” he says. “Particularly on the software end of the spectrum. Shop floor control, production control, call it what you will, similar software has been around for a long time in other industries. Those industries today could not function without it. But this is just starting to be adopted in our manufacturing world.

“At the same time, I have always been a huge advocate of lean manufacturing. To now be part of bringing these new technologies and solutions to the metal fabrication industry, I don’t know what can be more exciting than that.”

Prokop has been working in the machine tool and metal fabrication industry since 1986, shortly after getting his bachelor’s degree from the College of Industrial Technologies and Engineering at Southern Illinois University.

He says that given the huge opportunities that metal companies have to increase profit and efficiency by embracing new technologies and processes, he expects the adoption rate for new machine technology to pick up a lot of speed.

“Investment will become a natural component of increasing margins, not a cost,” he adds. “I mean, if it costs a billion dollars, but you save $500 million every year, who wouldn’t go out and borrow a billion to invest?”

Prokop says he has long admired what MetalForming has brought to the industry. “I’ve always had great respect for the team that they had built here. But until I became a part of it, I never knew the extent to which each and every person here truly does everything in their power to make things better for each customer they take care of. No one here really talks about this, or has procedures or processes that say ‘take care of our customers,’ they just do it. It is part of MFI DNA. It is commonly referred to here as the MFI family, and this extended family includes, first and foremost, all of the customers we are employed to take care of. That focus is very special.”

This year TAMKO celebrates the major accomplishment of 70 years of success in the building products industry.

The TAMKO story is one of American entrepreneurialism, resilience and the belief that there is always room for improvement. In 1944, a 69-year-old E.L. Craig sold his share of a Kansas City shingle plant and moved to Joplin, Mo., to start another roofing business. On Sept. 5, 1944, Craig renamed the new business TAMKO in honor of the five states he expected his sales territory to consist of: Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.

Seventy years later, Craig would be pleased. What started as one small shingle plant is now the largest privately-owned roofing manufacturer in the United States. TAMKO’s original five-state territory has grown to national distribution with 12 manufacturing facilities and 13 warehouses located across the U.S.

“This is a very important milestone for us personally and for the entire TAMKO family,” says TAMKO President and CEO David Humphreys, grandson of the company’s founder. “This year we celebrate our ability to survive, grow and be profitable year after year when dozens of other roofing companies have not.”

Over the years, TAMKO has survived and thrived in the midst of economic ups and downs. Part of TAMKO adapting to changes in the building products industry was expanding its product offering to include new forms of roofing (fiberglass and metal) and other types of building materials (composite decking, railing and cements and coatings). In 1994, the company officially changed its name to TAMKO Roofing Products Inc., and in 2006, the company changed its name once more to TAMKO Building Products Inc.

In the midst of such success, what makes TAMKO so unique is how the company has maintained its focus on quality and a small-town, family-owned business culture during decades of expansion. “I know my father would be proud of what this company has become,” says TAMKO Chairman Ethelmae Humphreys, daughter of TAMKO founder. “Our success has been possible because of the contributions of individual members of the TAMKO team over the years, as well as our customers who have been loyal throughout the years. Without them, this anniversary would not be possible.”

As part of its anniversary celebration, TAMKO is producing a colorful coffee-table book detailing its history, in conjunction with author Jeff Rodengen and publisher Write Stuff Enterprises. The book will be released later this summer and feature interviews with executives, employees, retirees, industry suppliers, TAMKO customers, historians and major competitors. It will also feature hundreds of historic photos of TAMKO employees, the Craig and Humphreys families, TAMKO construction, old documents, machinery, events and products, including some from the 1800s. The book will be available for purchase by the public after its release.

EPDM Coatings is offering product certification beginning March 27 and continuing throughout 2014. The training is provided free of charge and is located just outside Lancaster, Pa.

Each training session involves one day of classroom/product education followed by demonstrations and a tour of the manufacturing plant. In the afternoon, attendees apply the material, including with airless equipment.

“Once the installers are certified it allows them to provide a 10-year product warranty to our clients,” says Greg Kazmierczak, EPDM Coatings’ vice president of sales. “We spent several months researching and interviewing roofers to determine the most effective way of cultivating and disseminating leads to their roofing network.”

In addition, EPDM Coatings provides leads to its certified installers. Throughout the year, customers of EPDM Coatings contact their office looking for applicators for commercial projects throughout the U.S. The office puts customers in touch with the certified installers to negotiate the labor portion of the job. The leads are distributed equally in a territory. Audited phone calls are made to the customer to ensure follow up is completed in a timely manner. The certified installers who receive leads are asked to contact a lead within 24 hours of receiving it from EPDM Coatings’ office.

OGi Architectural Metal Solutions an Ohio Gratings company has introduced the new Architectural Catalog featuring the newest and latest architectural solutions for screening, fencing, railing and shading requirements.

This new catalog includes the SUNSHADE+ lightweight walking surface and shading system, TornadoGuard steel louver system designed and tested to FEMA 361 for tornado shelters and the new DG Series screens for applications requiring visual screening, enhanced security and architectural accents. Also new for 2014, you will find the EG Series grilles and the VG Series grilles.

Since 1970, Ohio Gratings Inc. has been a leader in the aluminum and steel bar grating market. With headquarters in Canton, Ohio, and additional facilities in South Carolina, Texas and Utah, Ohio Gratings is committed to providing quality products and quality service.

Union Corrugating Inc. has been a metal roofing manufacturer for more than 60 years, creating a brand that brings commercial and residential material excellence to the industry. CEO Keith Medick, who joined Union in mid-2013, has set his sights on being the best in another aspect of the company: service. “Our customer service record is a good one, but I’d like to make sure we’re doing everything we can,” says Medick. “Our team is currently working on ways to elevate what we can do from a service perspective to give our customers what they deserve, which is an A+ experience from the first phone call to final delivery.”

The recent launch of the Union Corrugating MyMetalRoof iPad App was one of the stepping stones to the A+ experience that Medick talked about, providing customers with a visualization tool that has the ability to see what a metal roof looks like on their application. “We are continually looking at these types of innovations to move us forward with what we can offer our customers,” said Medick.

Union Corrugating’s contractor team will continue to have Union’s MetalPro training classes offered to them. MetalPro helps both new and experienced metal roofing contractors refine their skills and stay up to date on the latest installation procedures. A proven program, it has become the #1 factory trained residential metal roofing contractor network in America. “MetalPro helps lay the foundation for that A+ experience. Metal roofing is the best technology out there, but if it’s not installed correctly, the homeowner will be disappointed. We won’t let that happen,” said Medick.

“Our employees are some of the nicest, most reliable and most ethical folks around, coupled with their ability and aptitude to deliver quality product on-time, complete, and with a smile,” said Medick. “Our goal of being a world-class company is a heartbeat away, and we are all committed to what it takes to make that happen. We believe our service strategy will see that come to fruition.”

CertainTeed is taking incentives to new heights by rolling out its most lucrative rebate program ever to its roofing contractor partners. This year, the newest value-added benefits of working with the CertainTeed portfolio of quality roofing products and extended warranty programs include thousands of dollars in cash rebates and all expense paid trips.

“We highly value our customer relationships and are committed to providing them with exceptional products,” says Jay Butch, director of contractor programs and promotions for CertainTeed Roofing. “The new incentive programs are just one way we show gratitude for our continued partnership and for playing such an important role in ensuring mutual business growth.”

This year, CertainTeed greatly expands upon last year’s successful Contractor’s Edge promotion, allowing contractors in North America who utilize SureStart Plus warranties the chance be one of the 27 winners of cash prizes. The Top Gun movie-themed contest will award nine first place winners $10,000, nine second place winners $8,000 and nine third place winners $7,000. All winners will also receive an all expense paid trip to attend the annual CertainTeed five-day conference at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina in San Diego.

New rebates are also available through the “Show Me the Money with No Limits” promotion for contractors who purchase CertainTeed products, such as Landmark Solaris, Landmark Pro, Presidential, Highland Slate, Grand Manor and more, including select CertainTeed accessories and new ventilation products.

Qualifying low-slope lines include CoolStar, Black Diamond Base and Flintlastic commercial roofing products. Rebates range from $1 to $4 per square/roll and are loaded onto a CertainTeed Visa debit card. Gold and Silver Star Contractors will also be eligible for an extra $1 per roll rebate for qualifying products.

In addition, Gold and Silver Star Contractors specifically focused on commercial projects also have the opportunity to earn incentives with the ³No Dollar Limit² promotion. For each 250 squares of eligible warranties registered, contractors will receive a $500 Visa debit card rebate.

Contractors interested in learning more about these and other CertainTeed contractor programs can contact their local territory manager or visit CertainTeed’s website.

GAF has announced that Frank Thompson of Sweetwater Builders Inc. located in Cranberry, Pa., is the winner of its $13,545 giveaway held at the February 2014 International Builders Show in Las Vegas. All builders attending the show were eligible to be scanned at the GAF booth for entry into the contest.

Why $13,545? A recent survey of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, REALTOR appraisers estimated that GAF Timberline Lifetime Shingles can increase a home’s value by an average of 5 percent, compared to a roof using basic 3-tab shingles. With the average new home median price listed at $270,900 by the National Association of Home Builders as of November 2013, a 5 percent increase in home value from installing GAF Timberline Lifetime Shingles equates to $13,545

“With up to 40 percent or more of the curb appeal dominated by the roof, upgrading to a Timberline Lifetime shingle is a great way for a builder to differentiate their homes while increasing the value of the property,” states Emily Videtto, executive director of shingles and new product development at GAF.

Following the positive reception to last year’s Innovations Roadtrip events, Atlas Roofing will again be offering a series of informative contractor meetings in several cities across the U.S.

This year’s events, referred to as “The House Always Wins”, begin in March and will carry through to October, with eight cities slated in between. Atlas representatives and executives will speak at each one to detail the many ways Atlas designs with the contractor in mind. Attendees will get in-depth and hands-on introductions to new Atlas products, technology tools and incentive promotions.

Presentations are scheduled during the Atlas “House Always Wins” events for the latest shingle and underlayment technology, including the power of Pristine Shingles featuring Scotchgard Protector. There will also be demonstrations on the free iPad ProAPP for contractors. Using Cloud-based technology, this app allows contractors to create, calculate, and manage projects directly from an iPad. Demonstrations will also be given on the benefits of using Eagleview Aerial Roof Measurement Reports, which are included on the ProAPP, to enhance the estimating process.

Contractors will learn how to earn unlimited cash rewards through the new “4 Of A Kind” Contractor Rebate Program.

Every registered attendee at each event will have a chance to win an iPad, Yeti Cooler and other great prizes. A free catered buffet lunch will be served and each attendee will receive Atlas product samples, literature and a goodie bag.

SnoBlox-SnoJax has just released its first training course for the snow retention and metal roof industry. With a combined 80 years of snow retention experience, the four course instructors have created the most comprehensive course on the subject. Pad style, bar systems, roof clamps, methods of attachment and layout theory are the basis of this 1.5 hour course.

The course is free of charge and open for all design professionals, contractors, homeowners or anyone interested in learning more about the basics of snow retention and layout design. “Modern Snow Retention Products & Installation Methods” has been accredited by AIA and numerous other organizations for 1.5 CE credit hours. However, it is also a great basic foundation for anyone wanting to learn more about snow retention products and techniques.

The course covers the history of snow retention, modern product designs, layout theory, and discusses various types of failures and how to avoid them. The course is also loaded with photos that complement the easy-to-understand content.

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July/August 2018

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About Roofing

Roofing is a national publication that unravels, investigates and analyzes how to properly design, install and maintain a roof system. Through the voices of professionals in the field, Roofing’s editorial provides a unique perspective.